Experienced outside back Jonathan Wright has been signed by the Vodafone Warriors on a one-year contract for the 2015 NRL season.
The rangy 27-year-old centre-winger has featured in three finals campaigns for three clubs including one grand final appearance for Canterbury-Bankstown against Melbourne in 2012.
He joins the Vodafone Warriors with a total of 91 NRL appearances since his debut in 2009, 41 of them for Cronulla over the past two seasons.
Wright is the fourth 2015 recruit from a rival NRL club following Kangaroos, New South Wales and Melbourne second rower Ryan Hoffman, Kiwi and Wests Tigers back rower Bodene Thompson and Canberra centre-winger Matt Allwood.
“Jonathan provides both experience and versatility for us in the outside backs,” said Vodafone Warriors head coach Andrew McFadden.
“He’s an established and really reliable player who has also played a lot of finals football as well as a grand final.”
The off-contract Wright had also attracted interest from his former Canterbury-Bankstown club as well as South Sydney.
“We’re pleased we were able to secure him,” said Vodafone Warriors general manager football Dean Bell.
“His experience is important for us as we look to boost our depth and cover in the outside backs for next season.”
Born in the New South Wales country town of Gilgandra, Wright will become a Warrior again after starting his career as a junior with the Northern Lake Warriors.
Later signed by Newcastle he played Jersey Flegg football for the Knights before moving to the Eels in 2009. Starting in the New South Wales Cup side he made his NRL debut midway through the campaign going on to play a role in Parramatta’s run to the grand final against the Storm; he was in the centres for the finals wins against St George Illawarra and Gold Coast – scoring a try against the Titans – but missed out on the grand final when Krisnan Inu returned from injury.
After joining the Bulldogs in 2011 he had his most successful first-grade campaign in 2012 when he appeared in each of the club’s 27 games. Starting in the centres, he played the bulk of the season on the wing, scoring 14 tries in all (two in finals wins against Manly and South Sydney) before experiencing his first grand final, a 4-14 defeat by the Storm.
He switched to the Sharks in 2013 and again tasted finals football, lining up in the centres for their win against North Queensland and their loss to Manly (when he scored a try).
JONATHAN WRIGHT
Born: March 08, 1987
Birthplace: Gilgandra, New South Wales
Position: Centre/Wing
Height: 187cm
Weight: 98kg
Junior Club: Northern Lake Warriors
Previous Clubs: Parramatta Eels (2009-2010), Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2011-2012), Cronulla
Sharks (2013-2014)
NRL Debut: Parramatta v Newcastle, EnergyAustralia Stadium, June 07, 2009 (Rd 13)
NRL Career: 91 appearances (2009-2014):
Parramatta: 12 games (2009-2010)
Canterbury-Bankstown: 38 games (2011-2012)
Cronulla: 41 games (2013-2014)
NRL Points: 112 points (28 tries)
Parramatta: 12 (3 tries)
Canterbury-Bankstown: 68 (17 tries)
Cronulla: 32 (8 tries)
Representative: Nil
